ENIGMA

Plot, new characters, new magical terms and abilities etc. are my intellectual property. If you want to borrow then please kindly ask. JK Rowling's characters and Wizarding Universe are all uniquely hers.

Summary: AU: What if everything we ever read in JK Rowling’s books was real – including the people characterised? What would you do if you found yourself caught up in that reality knowing what was to come? SS, RL, OC

Authors Note: It has been mentioned in the story but now I am noting it here. I am a fan of Diana Gabaldon’s ‘Outlander’/’Cross Stitch’ series and definitely was influenced by that in writing this story – i.e. the Standing Stones and traveling through time. But I also love Philip Pullman’s ‘His Dark Materials’ series and the tv programme ‘Sliders’ and the alternate universes alongside ours idea comes from there no doubt.

Fantasy/Drama

This story is rated R/M.

ENIGMA

Chapter 028: Trouble With A Capital “T”

Jessica threw herself into her work, wanting to forget the traumas of the Quidditch World Cup and the torment of her relationship with Cedric. At one time she’d been exceedingly worried about Severus, now she did exactly as he’d said she should do – she buried her memories of their time together and got on with living her life. But it was nearing Halloween, and she and Cedric hadn’t had any real time alone together since that first night back at school. She found that her effort to do the right thing was only making her miserable. She’d waited her whole life for someone like him and doing the right thing felt incredibly wrong. They talked, they talked a lot; but there only snatched moments and she found that she missed him profoundly.

When she least expected it, the Potions Master was always somewhere in the vicinity, his black eyes washing over her. She was still no closer to knowing why he’d turned up at the Cup than she’d been at the time. There were so many secrets where he was concerned, and in that respect nothing had really changed. She’d been so open with him and for whatever reason it wasn’t returned. How could she have loved him so much when she really didn’t know that much about him – nothing except for what she’d mostly pieced together from fiction? And they’d had a child…

Jessica supposed that one of the biggest attractors with Cedric was the fact that his life was an open book for her. She knew exactly where she stood with him and he always told her the absolute truth. She could never say that about Severus; he always felt perfectly justified in lying to her even if it was by omission. However, Cedric was younger and his life hadn’t been filled with the sorts of challenges that she imagined Severus had had growing up. But that was the biggest problem with this real-life flesh-and-blood Potions Master – he wouldn’t own up to anything. For all Jessica knew, the picture that had been painted in fiction was a fabrication that catered to the caricature of villainy that was Harry Potter’s greatest nemesis besides Lord Voldemort. But how could she ever know, given how he’d treated her?

xxxOOOxxx

Jessica found herself looking out of one of the windows in the Library on a cold, rainy day several weeks into the term. Everyone seemed to have settled into their routines, including her. But there were days like today when she sorely needed a break from the mundane reality of students, books and essays.

The Librarian was pouring over the latest intake when a shadow crossed her desk at the front of the Library. Her eyes fell upon a walking stick with a curling gold snake. She didn’t have to look up to know whose most unwelcome presence was breaking the monotony of her job.

‘Miss Newkirk,’ Lucius purred.

‘Mr. Malfoy…’

Of all the times to be alone.

‘I’ve been meaning to have a word with you since our delightful chit-chat this past summer.’

‘Ahh – Draco has spoken with you after all…’

‘I think it would be best for you and I to converse somewhere a bit more…private…’

The last thing Jessica wanted was to be alone with him. The Library was bad enough, but her office – that was much worse.

‘There’s no one but me here at the moment, Mr. Malfoy. You have me at an advantage today. So – what’s on your mind? Or more to the point – what have I done this time that has so offended your son?’

‘You are quite gloomy today…’

‘I am nothing of the sort; I simply speak as I find. Your son rarely condescends to acknowledge my presence since your wife’s last visit to complain about me, so I am completely at a loss as to how I could be so offensive to his delicate sensibilities!’

‘I am not your enemy, Jessica. There is no need for hostilities between us.’

‘I have every right to be angry – every right! He runs to his mother carrying tales and I supposed he’s stepped it up a notch so here you are! He is filled with arrogance and conceit and fancies himself above all others – and yet he doesn’t have the gumption to stand his own ground! If he is so hell-bent on forcing me out, then why not take it up through official channels? Is it because he knows any accusation he could lodge wouldn’t be worth the parchment it would written on and because no matter how wrong he is you or your wife always ride in to save the day!’

‘Bringing a complaint before the Governors is hardly necessary…’

‘You are a School Governor. Mr. Malfoy; any staff member who receives a visit from you is always well-aware of it. I have no doubt that you would do whatever you think necessary to force me from this school. You have the power to do it – it’s that simple.’

‘I see you quite have the measure of my son – and me,’ Lucius replied drily. He then relayed to Jessica the comments Draco accused her of making in the presence of certain Gryffindors at the World Cup.

‘Mmm yes, I said something to that effect…’ she snapped. ‘Give or take about a dozen gross exaggerations!’

‘And might I enquire as to what you meant by your comments?’

‘Your son has habits that bring him nothing but trouble from the people he doesn’t want to have interfere in his business…’ she answered without hesitation. ‘He hates Harry Potter and his friends, and yet he can’t help but to shoot his mouth off to them the same as he does to his housemates!’

Lucius looked at Jessica and frowned, a gloved hand stroking the head of the serpent.

‘Oh I appreciate the fact that he likes having advantages and perhaps knowing things that others don’t,’ she continued cautiously. ‘My point was that he shouldn’t ‘tip his hat’ about them – and certainly not to anyone who clearly has conflicting interests. There’s no need to talk so much; it simply undermines his position – and it can make him look foolish or lead people to think things that perhaps they should be ignorant of. He turns molehills into mountains and then it’s someone else that has to bring them down to size again – you. You won’t always be there to pick up the pieces for him or to fight his battles.’

‘I have made the same observation myself on more occasions than I can count,’ Malfoy Senior sighed after a tense moment. ‘He is at that age where he can be quite…difficult… I’m afraid his mother rather spoils him.’

‘The curse of the only child – to be either over-indulged or ignored. Perhaps both – split between both parents.’

Lucius looked at her curiously.

So you don’t know me that well after all, do you?’ Jessica thought to herself.

‘I have no brothers or sisters,’ she said evenly.

‘And you were…?’

‘Nothing like your son,’ Jessica answered as she slammed several books down quite hard.

‘I see,’ Lucius replied softly.

‘Miss Newkirk I…’ came a familiar voice.

Snape strode through the doors towards her desk and stopped cold at the sight of Lucius seated across from Jessica behind it, clearly enjoying himself given the relaxed air about him.

‘Pardon my intrusion,’ the Potions Master said carefully.

‘Impeccable timing as always, Snape,’ Lucius sniffed with a quirk of his silvery brows. ‘Nevermind, my business here is done.’

He turned to Jessica, the warmth draining from his grey eyes as the Potions Master left.

‘Thank you very much, Jessica. Until next time…’

‘Next time?’

‘Indeed. I can see that though it was a great loss to the honorable house of Salazar Slytherin, the Hat made no mistake with you. But I would say this: speaking as one finds is not always appropriate in every society. I quite enjoy your directness...but it could lead you to be misunderstood – and we wouldn’t want that, now would we?’

‘She’ll be no more misunderstood than anyone else that doesn’t curry your favour!’ Professor McGonagall snapped as she emerged from the Library’s periodicals section, conveniently located near the front desks.

‘Ahhh – Deputy Headmistress. So we weren’t entirely alone…’

‘As a professor and Deputy Headmistress I have every right to be here! You, on the other hand, do not!. If you have legitimate concerns relating to your son’s treatment at the hands of any staff member then there are procedures to follow, the first of which is to file a formal complaint with me. Otherwise you are not only trespassing, but engaged in harassment – and as a governor of this school you are well aware of that!’

Lucius’ gray eyes glazed over and his mouth set in a thin line. He glared at Professor McGonagall, his hand gripping his walking stick with such ferocity it was no small miracle it didn’t snap in two.

‘Just so that we understand each other,’ Jessica said evenly as she glared back, ‘If you have any personal disputes with me you can always take it up with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar; I am a McKenzie you know…’

‘You are only a distant relation…’ Lucius drawled.

‘Tsk, tsk, tsk… Has none of your informants told you? I am sister to Liam McKenzie and the clan council, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (as you should know), recognise me as such.

‘Impossible!’

‘I can assure you that it most definitely is not,’ McGonagall said firmly as she stood in the fullness of her height. ‘You have become so accustomed to the lies that reach your ears that you can’t recognise the bare-cheeked truth when it’s put to you.’

‘The mark… even I know that you would have had to take a mark!’ Malfoy hissed.

‘Yes – you would know all about that wouldn’t you?’ the Deputy Headmistress countered.

Jessica took off the sweater she was wearing. Underneath she wore a silk and lace camisole. She turned around slowly – and on her right shoulder was an intricate Celtic tattoo of sorts that was the sign of the Clan McKenzie. She lifted the bottom of the camisole so that the haughty aristocrat had a good look at the equally detailed but larger tattoo that spread across her lower back, just above the dimples of her buttocks.

She turned back around and looked Malfoy dead in the eyes. For the first time since she’d made his acquaintance she saw fear.

‘Anything else, Mr. Malfoy?’ she enquired politely.

‘No…’ he replied after swallowing hard. ‘It appears I was mistaken – terribly mistaken.’

‘As I have tried to explain to you – yes; yes you were grievously mistaken.’

‘We won’t have anymore such misunderstandings – will we?’ McGonagall proposed firmly.

The aristocratic wizard said nothing as he strode out of the Library, trying to collect himself.

‘If he knows what’s good for him he’ll leave you alone,’ the Deputy Headmistress said firmly once he was out of their sight. They heard voices down the hall and only fleetingly noted that it sounded like Snape he’d run into.

‘I don’t know why in Merlin’s name you don’t get rid of him,’ Jessica sniffed.

‘He’ll be taking his leave of us shortly. I need to have a word with Dumbledore and the few of the governors that aren’t in his pockets. His money does nothing for this institution, brooms for the Slytherin Quidditch Team aside, and I will not have him abuse the privilege any more. It’s just a shame we didn’t have another witness to what he put you through; someone who wouldn’t be afraid to speak up for you.’

Suddenly there was a rustling from across the room and four figures emerged. One was Cho Chang and her resident shadow Marietta Edgecombe – and the other was none other than Cedric. The Hufflepuff Quidditch Captain looked very annoyed while the Ravenclaw Seeker looked keen, quite keen to get his attention with her friend backing her up. Terry Boot emerged from a nook where he’d been curled up in peace, trying to study for the next Potions test.

Jessica was ready to rip Cho’s heart out with a spoon and slap the smirk off of Marietta’s face.

‘We heard everything,’ Cedric said firmly. ‘I know it wasn’t right but…’

‘Are you volunteering Mr. Diggory?’ McGonagall asked as she peered over her glasses with raised brows.

‘Yes, I am.’

‘There are few who would be openly willing to go up against the Malfoys. I know your father – he will not be pleased.’

‘It’s nothing to do with him – and I’m a man capable of making my own decisions for myself.’

‘And you Miss Chang?’ McGonagall asked warily as she stared at the drooling simpleton.

‘Well, um… You see…’ Cho sputtered. ‘I need to get back to my dormitory!’

She flew out of the Library with Marietta on her heels.

‘A waste of space…’ McGonagall muttered.

She looked at Cedric and asked once again if he was sure.

‘We can get it sorted out right now if you want,’ the Hufflepuff replied firmly.

‘And what about you, Mr. Boot?’

‘I’m with Cedric. I’ll back Miss Newkirk all the way! I’m sick of Draco Malfoy lording it over everybody. He acts like his family are some kind of royalty when they’re nothing but yobs. There’s others that would talk too…like Susan Bones. You should hear her aunt… she can’t stand Draco’s father!’

‘Really?’ McGonagall asked.

‘Terry’s right,’ Cedric said. ‘The only people that really tolerate Draco Malfoy are all in his House. But they don’t really have a choice… and everyone knows he’s his Head of House’s favourite.’

‘If others are willing to come forward…’ McGonagall said encouragingly. ‘I’ll throw the weight of the Clan McKenzie behind them!’

‘That’s it then. We’ve been hoping that something like this would happen; the chance to get Lucius Malfoy out of our hair and put Draco in his place,’ Terry said, filled with relief. ‘I’ll come with Cedric and then the others can come by, casual-like to see you and the Headmaster.’

‘If I didn’t know any better I’d say the Hat made a mistake and you should be in Slytherin,’ Jessica said quietly as she smiled.

‘The only way to beat a Malfoy and those like them is to play them at their own game…’ McGonagall said gravely. ‘You two give me twenty minutes and then come to my office. Jessica, let’s you and I get together later, Aye? First, I need to see to Miss Chang and Miss Edgecombe – “loose lips sink ships” as the old saying goes.’

The Deputy Headmistress left with Cedric and Terry. They parted ways once in the corridor.

On the one hand, Jessica was relieved that Lucius Malfoy and his precious son were going to get their come-uppance; Terry was right, the Malfoys and those of their mindset were nothing more than yobs.

But she also knew as well as everyone else concerned that repercussions would surely follow. It disturbed her greatly that she was the trigger for whatever was to come. Somewhere along the line the Malfoys would be looking for some payback.

xxxOOOxxx

‘What in Merlin’s name is going on!’ Snape rasped several days later after he barged into the Library and found Jessica shelving books. It was Hogsmeade weekend and the students who hadn’t gone home for the weekend were in the village. ‘Have you any idea about the state Lucius Malfoy is in? Supposedly he has been harassing you and you set him up?!’

‘The state he’s in?! You’re having a laugh!! He came in here looking for me and it was everything I could do to convince him we didn’t need privacy – in my office! Thank God I wasn’t as alone as I thought! You weren’t there! You didn’t hear what he said or how he said it! You didn’t see the way he looked at me! You also haven’t read the note he sent to me which I have gratefully handed over to Liam McKenzie now that Professor Dumbledore and Minerva have read it – I can see why Narcissa Malfoy tries to keep her husband on a very tight leash!’

‘No!’

‘Oh do me a favour! Him coming here in the first place was no thanks to your favourite! Draco just had to go running off his mouth about me to his father…and especially about our little run-in at the World Cup! And just like always he couldn’t leave well enough alone and lied!’

‘I know; I was there. He stupidly admitted that he alluded to Lucius participating in…certain salubrious events at the World Cup. It was foolish to have acted as he did and I made it quite clear to him in Lucius’ presence.’

‘Did you really?’ Jessica snorted. ‘Well – dear old daddy wanted a word with me himself. So it’s obvious I need to really watch my back with poor put-upon innocent Draco… But with you I’m not even allowed to stand up for myself or point out just how stupid he really is! Spoiled brat – always running to mommy and daddy OR YOU!’

‘I really do not want to argue with you!’

‘No of course you don’t. Draco is always right now matter how wrong he is! And here you are – picking up where your friend left off by harassing me! Why are you here DEFENDING him after everything he’s put me through!’ the Librarian snapped as she looked at her intake sheets and checked the list against the box of books at her feet.

‘You’re speaking to me…’ Snape commented. ‘I suppose I can take that as a good sign at the very least.’

‘I never stopped speaking to you, remember?’

‘No, no you didn’t,’ he replied softly.

He wanted her to look at him, to see that he was hurting too…and that he was scared for her, more frightened than he’d ever been in his life.

‘Is there something you need here besides playing messenger boy for your mate?’

She was so cold and businesslike…and bordering on hateful

‘Most Potente Potions…’

‘You have a copy…’

‘I… can’t find it…’

‘A house-elf could – wouldn’t take more than 5 seconds. You should know that better than I do. Although it is quite odd given how orderly you are.’

‘I can see you were sorted into the right House – I certainly did not think of that myself, though I suppose I should have.’

‘Hmmph – your friend agrees with you about my sorting…’

Still she wouldn’t look at him…she hated him that much?

‘I’m sorry to have disturbed you,’ Snape said hesitantly.

‘It’s clear we don’t have anything to say to each other; just leave me alone!’

So bitter and disconnected; is that what being with him had done to her?

Jessica stood and stacked the last of her books on a shelf. Severus reached out to her and put a hand on one of hers.

‘Please be careful; Lucius Malfoy is up to something, I know he is!’ he whispered.

Jessica snatched her hand back as though she’d been stung and stormed to the front desk with Snape trailing in her wake.

‘There are a few tomes I require,’ He said loudly as a group of students walked by the Library doors.

Jessica handed him a request form without looking up.

‘There was a time you would have never been so cold to me…’ he spat.

‘There was a time when I fooled myself that you actually cared about me. You hurt me, Severus, in every way a man can hurt a woman. You did everything you could to break me and let me know just how worthless I was when you decided you wanted nothing more to do with me. I’ve woken up to the fact that I don’t really know you at all – and I’ve paid a high price for that! You got what you wanted; now deal with it and stay out of my face!’’

Jessica picked up some books and headed to the second floor.

Snape’s dark head was bent over the form as though to fill it out, but his eyes watched her until she had passed from view. The lump in his chest wouldn’t disappear so easily; it never did when they were in the same room together or when he thought of her. He shoved the paper in his robes and swept from the Library, seeking an absolution it seemed would never come – and with the sombre grey eyes of Cedric Diggory boring through his back.

xxxOOOxxx

Two weeks had passed since the altercation with Lucius Malfoy. Professors McGonagall and Dumbledore had collected statements from students and staff about incidents they’d either witnessed or been subjected to instigated by him. Several Governors had stepped forward and filed complaints of their own. Lucius Malfoy’s days as Governor of Hogwarts was effectively over and so were those of the Governors who’d supported him for so long.

The school was starting afresh and given the importance of what was happening with the TriWizard Tournament, the consensus was that it had happened just in time. New Governors were in place and for the first time in its history, the staff was to have their own Council of elected members who would rotate each year. The Council and the Governors would jointly address the concerns of the school and its administration.

The only ones who were decidedly unhappy with this change in affairs were Lucius Malfoy and his son.

And Severus.

xxxOOOxxx

‘You shouldn’t be up here; it’s closing time…’ Jessica commented as she looked up from her desk into familiar gray eyes.

She’d taken to retreating to the privacy of her office as much as possible when she didn’t have to be in the Library itself.

‘I need some things for my Herbology term paper…’ Cedric replied.

He handed her the list given to him by Professor Sprout. They would have to go into the Severely Restricted Section. Students weren’t allowed to go, not even with a teacher’s note. There were keys to the door and keys to each locked stack of books. Unfortunately it meant that she would have to go deep into the bowels of the Library. Even Jessica had to admit it; she didn’t particularly like it back there.

‘I can come back later for them…’ Cedric suggested, not wanting to upset her. He didn’t want her to think he was manipulating things so that he could see her. But he did want to see her, he missed her so much.

‘It’s ok,’ Jessica sighed as she began to walk.

It took them a good 15 minutes, but at least she found the right door. She closed and locked it behind them and set about getting Cedric his books. He said nothing and simply followed her around, acutely aware that he shouldn’t be there with her.

They had just collected the last book when he realised that she was blinking back tears.

‘What’s wrong?’ he asked gently as he reached and took her hand in his.

‘Nothing’ Jessica said tightly as she let it go and turned to go back downstairs.

‘Lucius Malfoy and Severus,’ she thought to herself. ‘Damn them both to the farthest reaches of hell!’’

xxxOOOxxx

Mercifully it was Hogsmeade weekend and Jessica could escape her demons for two days. There were few students about and she could enjoy the solitude. Still, she would have preferred at least some company – Cedric’s. They hadn’t spoken about the recent turn of events. As far as anyone still knew, he was just another student.

Jessica had taken to spending time at her deceased son’s grave especially when the students were likely to be in the village. She’d find herself tidying his small grave and putting down a small memento so that he would know that she’d come and still loved him. It made no sense and didn’t exactly fit in with her Native American traditions, but it did do something for her. She never left her little gifts, instead she’d take them back with her to her quarters where they were put away in a locked wooden box.

However on this particular day she was feeling more upset than usual. Draco Malfoy was being particularly hateful, even more so than usual, and Severus right along with him. She’d just had yet another run-in with the Potions Master and had positively fled. For someone who didn’t want to be bothered with her, he invested a lot of time being horrible towards her.

The Librarian sat on the cold ground crying hard and feeling more put-upon than ever.

She felt a hand on her shoulder and recoiled instantly.

‘It’s only me,’ Cedric murmured. ‘I’ve seen you come out here before and I was hoping I’d find you…’

Jessica couldn’t find the words to speak to him, nor could she find the power to look at him. She realised just how much he really didn’t know about her – just like she hadn’t known anything about Severus and still didn’t.

‘What did he do to you?’

‘What are you talking about?’

‘Professor Snape – what did he do to you?’

‘Nothing…’

‘I’ve seen what his sort of ‘nothing’ does to you.’

‘You have?’

‘More times than I would like to count; you were involved with him, weren’t you?’

‘You must think I’m really pathetic…’

‘I don’t understand it; but it’s not really my business.’

‘No – it is. There is so much you don’t know Cedric. And before you start I am not trying to push you away from me. But I know what it’s like to wake up one day and wonder just who the hell this person is that you would have sold your soul to the devil for. I still don’t know anything about him except how much it hurts to think that I loved him so much. I would have done anything for him…’

Cedric sat down and put an arm around her.

‘You can’t help who you fall in love with,’ he said gently. ‘I think it shows just how exceptional you are.’

‘Exceptionally stupid; yes I am.’

‘No, you’re not,’ Cedric said as he looked around the ancient graveyard and then directed his attention to where Jessica was sitting.

‘Would you still feel the same if you knew…’ Jessica mumbled as she stared at the small pile of stones that marked her son’s grave. The small pile of stones that had a small baby rattle sitting on them.

She finally looked up and realised that Cedric was staring at the rattle; staring rather thoughtfully.

The Hufflepuff was thinking over the past year and particularly last Spring. The glow that Jessica had had then which couldn’t have just been the pash that some of the students had thought she’d had on some unknown guy. Falling in love didn’t make a woman look the way she’d look then. He’d seen pictures of his mother when she was pregnant with him and his aunt when she was expecting his cousins – the glow that they had…

‘You had a baby by him,’ he said tensely. ‘You had a baby by him and it died.’

Jessica nodded and then reached for the rattle, clutching it tightly. She pulled her legs up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them.

‘Holy Merlin…’

‘Get yourself a good girl, Cedric. Someone who isn’t so tainted as me. Someone who can give you the babies you want and who won’t embarrass you in front of all your friends.’

Tears were streaming down the Librarian’s face and Cedric pried the rattle from her hands and placed it back on the stones. He pulled her to him and held her as she cried.

‘I’m not going anywhere,’ he said firmly. ‘…and my life won’t end if we don’t have children...’

‘You have your whole life ahead of you…’ Jessica said sadly. ’There isn’t a girl at Hogwarts who wouldn’t give her right arm to be with you and we both know it. Cho Chang is certainly working overtime to get your attention… She’s young, she’s fairly popular… She’s already thinking about the beautiful babies you could give her. You want children – even you have told me that!’

‘I’m not giving up on you, I told you that. And I’m not interested in her; I know what she’s up to. I can’t make a move without her turning up with that shadow of hers. She talks too damn much sometimes for a start; there isn’t any part of my life that would be private. To her I’m like some trophy – she’s a competitive girl. But she’ll get bored and move onto someone else. Girls like her always do. And having children isn’t everything – certainly not the way you think it does. If we have them, fine; if we don’t that’s OK too.’

‘I’ve never known anyone like you Cedric, that’s the truth. But there is so much more that you don’t know!’

‘And that’s how I feel about you,’ he replied before giving Jessica a kiss. ‘I don’t understand how he could walk away from you – but I’m glad he did. If he hadn’t then we wouldn’t be together. Being with you is all I care about, no matter how bad you think your secrets are!’

‘I’ve missed you,’ Jessica murmured as she leaned into him. ‘I’ve missed you so much…’

Cedric stood and helped the Librarian to her feet.

‘I’ve missed you too…’

Jessica looked in his eyes. She’d never known anyone to fight so hard for her. But he’d stuck by her with all the drama surrounding Lucius Malfoy and he’d weathered the revelation of her most peculiar situation with Severus. Perhaps she was just making a mountain out of a molehill?

‘Come to me…’ she found herself pleading. ‘There’s another entrance to my rooms; I only realised what it was last week.’

‘Tonight?’

‘No – now…’

The two lovers took a circuitous route back to the castle…and to Jessica’s quarters.